Author Archives: Arne Duncan

Now is the Time to Reduce Gun Violence in Schools and Communities

I have been proud to serve President Obama and this administration since day one, but today was one of my proudest days. The actions that the President is taking and proposing to reduce gun violence echo what America’s educators say … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Schools and Community, Teachers | 38 Comments

Resources for Schools to Prepare for and Recover from Crisis

All of us who work in education have broken hearts and are haunted by the tragedy visited on the educators, students, and families of the Newtown Public School District and Sandy Hook Elementary School. Whenever a school experiences violence and … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Teachers | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

How do U.S. Students Compare with their Peers around the World?

New international assessments of student performance in reading, math, and science provide both encouraging news about American students’ progress and some sobering cautionary notes. The encouraging news is that U.S. fourth grade students have made significant progress in reading and … Continue reading

Posted in Data, Headlines, News, Standards and assessments | Tagged , | 11 Comments

More than 500 Colleges Agree to Adopt Financial Aid Shopping Sheet

I am pleased to announce that more than 500 colleges and universities (.xls), enrolling more than 2.5 million undergraduate students (thirteen percent of all undergrads), have committed to adopting the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet during the 2013-2014 school year. The adoption … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Students | Tagged | 1 Comment

Institutions Commit to Providing Millions of Students with Easy-To-Understand Information About College Costs

We know that students and their families face a difficult task in deciding where to enroll for higher education, and understanding the cost of college—and how to pay for it—can be daunting. Too often, students are left without a clear … Continue reading

Posted in College Completion, Headlines, News | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Teaching Fellows Represent, Respect Teachers

Last week was bittersweet at the Department of Education. After a truly incredible year working with some of the best teachers in the country, we released our 2011-2012 Teaching Ambassador Fellows to return to their work in classrooms and school … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Teachers | Tagged | 5 Comments

Celebrating Success: 40 Years of Pell Grants

Cross-posted from the White House Blog. Chances are you know someone who wouldn’t have gone to college without the help of a Pell Grant. Since 1972, more than 60 million Americans have received financial assistance to earn their degree.   As … Continue reading

Posted in Federal Student Aid, Headlines, News | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Obama Administration Position on DC Vouchers

You may have seen a few stories yesterday that left a misleading impression that the Obama administration changed our position on vouchers. That’s not true. As we said yesterday, our focus is on making sure all students get a world-class … Continue reading

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Connecting Educators, Building Communities Across Rural America

In an increasingly interconnected world, we can no longer allow geography to be a barrier to education and opportunity in rural America. Through the national broadband plan and unprecedented investments in education reform, the Obama administration is leveraging the power … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Rural, Teachers | Tagged | 5 Comments

Take Politics Out of Student Loan Process

This op-ed appeared in today’s edition of Politico. Last month, I had the honor of giving the commencement address at Howard University. I was filled with hope and inspiration looking out at the faces of all those young people, often … Continue reading

Posted in Federal Student Aid, Headlines, News | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Join Us and Thank a Teacher

Darlene McCampbell, my high school English teacher, was an extraordinary teacher. She challenged us, encouraged us, and brought out the best in us. Mrs. McCampbell is still teaching and inspiring students today. Great teachers help mold the future every day, and are … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Teachers, Teaching Profession | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Ask the Teachers

Cross-posted from the Huffington Post. When I ask teachers why they teach, they almost always say that it is because they want to make a difference in the lives of children. They talk about the joys of teaching and the … Continue reading

Posted in Headlines, News, Teachers, Teaching Profession | Tagged , , | 1 Comment